Arizona State (12-3, 3-1) returns to action following a 77-71 victory over Washington State on Thursday. Warren Washington made his first eight shots and scored 18 points as the Sun Devils defeated the Cougars for the fifth time in the last six games. They now turn their attention to the Huskies (9-7, 1-4), a team ASU has defeated in four of the last five meetings in Tempe.
HOW TO FOLLOW
The Sun Devil Men's Basketball game against Washington will appear on the national ESPN broadcast when they take on Washington on Sunday, Jan. 8 at 3 PM MST. Dave Fleming (pxp) and Corey Williams (analyst) are on the call. All 31 of Arizona State's games this season will be televised, with Coach Hurley's squad making appearances on ESPN, FOX, CBS, and Pac-12 Network in addition to several major network affiliates. Listen to Tim Healey and Kyle Dodd on KTAR 92.3 FM. The action can also be tracked via live stats accessed here.
MILESTONE WATCH
Desmond Cambridge Jr. currently ranks 10th in the NCAA with 1,995 career points in 126 games and is only 5 shy of the 2,000-point milestone. His 15.8 points/game rank 17th among active NCAA players. He has also made 326 three-point field goals, the sixth-most among active players. Cambridge Jr. is one of 33 active players with over 1,500 points and 600 rebounds in their career. DJ Horne also has over 1,000 career points (1,191).
SEASON SNAPSHOT
The Arizona State men's basketball team is off to a 12-3 start and has put themselves in prime contention for a postseason berth and mid-season ranking. Head Coach Bobby Hurley has already taken Arizona State to the NCAA Tournament twice and has constructed a schedule that has already and will continue to test his team. Because of this, Arizona State already boasts one of the most impressive resumes through the first two months of the 2022-23 season.
Arizona State opened the NET ranked 35th, its highest debut since the introduction of NCAA's ranking metric prior to the 2019-20 season. They have been as high as 22 this season.
The Sun Devils have a higher NET than...
- Michigan State (56)
- Memphis (59)
- Florida (66)
- Iowa (69)
Bracket experts nationwide have Arizona State in firm contention for a NCAA Tournament bid. Take a look at where the most prominent national names have the Sun Devils ranked at their last projection.
Jerry Palm (CBS): 10 seed
Michel DeCoury (Fox Sports): 11 seed
Andy Katz (NCAA): 6 seed
Joe Lunardi (ESPN): First Four Out
Bracket Matrix: 10 seed
Sun Devil Men's Basketball is off to an 12-3 start, the best record through 14 games since the 2017-18 season. ASU has won 12 of it's first 15 games for the second time in the Bobby Hurley era and only the sixth time since 2000.
PAC-12 PLAY
The Maroon & Gold have claimed home victories over Stanford and Washington State after traveling on the road to defeat Colorado, starting 3-1 in Pac-12 Conference action for the first time since 2012-13. With a win against Washington on Sunday, ASU would be 4-1 in the Pac-12 for the first time since 2007-08.
LOCKING IT DOWN
Arizona State has been one of the best defensive teams in the country through 14 games, making it difficult on opponents to score. The Sun Devils rank 9th in the nation holding opponents to just 37.2% shooting from the field.
HOME COOKING
Arizona State has now won 11 of its last 12 games at Desert Financial Arena. It is the best 12-game mark since ASU won 14 straight, meshed between the last eight home games of the 2013-14 season and the first six of the 2014-15 season.
SHOT MAKING
The Sun Devils shot 55.4% from the floor against Washington State. It is the seventh best shooting percentage under Bobby Hurley in Pac-12 play. Arizona State shot 59.4% from the floor in the first half and scored 42 points. Both were conference-play bests.
WILL-GUARD U
Through 15 games this season, opposing guards are shooting 38% against ASU in conference play and 34% for the season against the Sun Devil defense. Guards are averaging 9.5 turnovers per game against the Sun Devils in conference play.
COLLINS IS BALLIN'
Transfer point guard Frankie Collins has added a different dimension to the Sun Devils offense. He has led or tied ASU for the assists lead in 13 of the 14 games he's played this season. His 5.3 assists per game on the season are third in the Pac-12 and 29th nationally. Collins is one of three players in the conference averaging over 10 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds.
BALANCED SCORING
A signature of the Arizona State offense has been the different individuals stepping up at the offensive end. The Maroon & Gold are averaging 72.1 points per game and four different Sun Devils are averaging at least 10.1 points per game or more (D.J. Horne, Frankie Collins, Desmond Cambridge Jr., Devan Cambridge). No one on the team averages over 30 minutes, with 11 players averaging at least 10.0 minutes per game. Arizona State has had three players - Desmond Cambridge Jr., Frankie Collins and DJ Horne - score at least 20 points twice. Arizona State is one of only three schools in the Pac-12 to have three guys score at least 20 points in a game this season (Arizona, Washington). 11 different Sun Devils have scored 10 or more points in at least one game this season.
PROTECTING THE PAINT
Arizona State continues to find themselves near the top of the national rankings in blocks and rebounds per game. 11 players have recorded at least one block this season, led by Warren Washington's 30. Washington 2.0 blocks per game put him at 30th in the country. ASU ranks 29th nationally in blocks per game as a team. Arizona State also ranks 31st nationally in rebounds, averaging just under than 40 per game. ASU has scored 42% of their points this season from inside the paint (450/1,082) and has outscored their opponent in the paint 13 times in 15 games this season. ASU is outscoring opponents by 29 points in the paint in league play.
WARREN WAS SOARIN'
Warren Washington notched a Sun Devil career high with 18 points vs. the Cougars, his sixth time in double digit scoring on the year. He made his first eight shots and finished 9-10 from the floor. He ranks third in the Pac-12 with a 66.7% field goal percentage. Washington has raised his game when it matters most, averaging 9.3 points per game in league play. Washington also led the Sun Devils with four assists on the night, his first-time pacing ASU's assist effort.
THE DES DIFFERENCE
Desmond Cambridge Jr. is +37 in four league play games this season after a +2 tally against Washington State. He scored 13 points, marking his seventh time in double figures this season. When Cambridge Jr. scores in double figures, Arizona State is 8-0.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Arizona State has...
• Scored more fast-break points than opponents in 11 out of 15 games, and the last seven. The Sun Devils are outscoring opponents by a +41 margin on the fast break this season.
• Won the turnover battle in three out of four conference games this season and four straight contests. ASU +19 in turnovers compared to its opponents this season.
BY THE NUMBERS
• ASU's four league games have been separated by an average of five points.
• Warren Washington is 7-1 in the opening tip at Desert Financial Arena this season. He has won the tip off in all Sun Devil wins.
• ASU is +16 in steals in conference games this season including the lead in all four games.
• Arizona State is 8-0 this season when scoring at least 70 points.
• Luther Muhammad scored nine points in nine minutes against Washington State.
• DJ Horne's 12 points against Washington State marked his ninth time this season in double figures this season.
GAME DAY x ????
— 942 Crew (@942Crew) January 8, 2023
11am: @SunDevilWBB vs Oregon State ??
Breakfast Burritos for Students ??
3pm: @SunDevilHoops vs Washington??
Global Sun Devils T Shirt for International Students Day ?? pic.twitter.com/rI9GzjHuOW
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